A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 01 eBook

to array ourselves in our sacred vestments, that we
might appear in them before his lord. Then putting
on our most precious ornaments, I took a rich cushion
in my arms, together with the bible I had from your
majesty, and the beautiful psalter, ornamented with
fine paintings, which the queen bestowed upon me.
My companion carried the missal and a crucifix; and
the clerk, clothed in his surplice, carried a censer
in his hand. In this order we presented ourselves,
and the felt hanging before the lords door being withdrawn,
we appeared, in his presence. Then the clerk
and interpreter were ordered to make three genuflexions,
from which humiliation we were exempted; and they
admonished us to be exceedingly careful, in going in
and out of the lords dwelling, not to touch the threshold
of his door, and we were desired to sing a benediction
or prayer for their lord; and we accordingly entered
in singing the salve regina.

Immediately within the door there stood a bench planted
with cosmos and drinking cups. All Sartachs wives
were assembled in the house; and the Moals, or rich
Tartars, pressing in along with us, incommoded us
exceedingly. Then Coiat carried the censer with
incense to Sartach, who took it in his hand, examining
it narrowly. He next carried him the psalter,
which he and the wife who sat next him minutely inspected.
After which the bible was carried to him, on which
he asked if it contained our Gospel? To which
I answered, that it contained that, and all our other
Holy Scriptures. I next delivered to him your
majestys letter, with its translation into the Arabian
and Syriac languages, which I had procured to be done
at Acon[1]; and there happened to be present certain
Armenian priests, who were skilful in the Turkish
and Arabian languages, and likewise the before mentioned
templar had knowledge of both these and the Syriac.
We then went out of the house and put off our vestments,
and we were followed by Coiat, accompanied by certain
scribes, by whom our letters were interpreted; and
when Sartach had heard these read, he graciously accepted
our bread, wine, and fruits, and permitted us to carry
our books and vestments to our own lodgings.
All this happened on the festival of St Peter ad Vincula.

[1] Now called St Jean d’Acre.—­E.

SECTION XVIII.

They are ordered to proceed to Baatu, the Father
of Sartach.

Next morning early a certain priest, who was the brother
of Coiat, came to our lodging, and desired to have
our box of chrism to carry, as he said, to Sartach.
About evening Coat sent for us, and said that the king
our master had written acceptably to his lord and
master Sartach; but there were certain difficult matters,
respecting which he did not dare to determine without
the orders and advice of his father, and that it was,
therefore, necessary that we should go to his father,
leaving the two carts behind us in which we brought